London Marathon Foundation’s Active Spaces Fund (United Kingdom)

The London Marathon Foundation Active Spaces Fund provides grants from £10,000 to £80,000 to improve physical activity spaces and community facilities across London. The fund supports projects that help children, young people, and underserved communities become more active by creating accessible, sustainable, and inclusive spaces for healthy living.

London Marathon Foundation Active Spaces Fund 2026: Grants of £10,000–£80,000 for Community Physical Activity Projects in London

The London Marathon Foundation Active Spaces Fund supports organizations that improve community spaces and facilities to encourage physical activity among people who are least active.

The fund prioritizes projects that create lasting improvements to places where people can exercise, play, and participate in healthy activities, particularly in underserved communities across London’s boroughs.

Program Overview

The Active Spaces Fund provides financial support to organizations delivering projects that improve existing community spaces for physical activity.

The programme aims to:

• Increase participation in physical activity.
• Improve access to quality community facilities.
• Reduce health inequalities.
• Support underserved communities.
• Create sustainable spaces that encourage long-term healthy lifestyles.

Projects must be delivered within a London borough.

Funding Amount

Eligible organizations can apply for grants ranging from:

• £10,000 to £80,000

Funding contributes toward the overall cost of eligible projects that improve physical activity spaces and facilities.

Program Objectives

The Active Spaces Fund aims to:

• Improve spaces used for physical activity.
• Increase participation among inactive communities.
• Support healthier lifestyles.
• Strengthen community wellbeing.
• Reduce barriers to physical activity.
• Create inclusive recreational environments.
• Improve long-term access to active spaces.
• Strengthen community connections.
• Develop sustainable facilities that continue benefiting local residents after project completion.

Priority Focus Areas

Projects should contribute to one or more of the following areas:

• Physical activity.
• Community sports.
• Active lifestyles.
• Community facilities.
• Recreation spaces.
• Health and wellbeing.
• Inclusion.
• Community engagement.
• Healthy living.
• Accessible public spaces.
• Sustainable community infrastructure.

Priority Beneficiaries

The Foundation prioritizes projects supporting one or more of the following groups:

• Children.
• Young people.
• People from ethnically diverse communities.
• People from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
• Women and girls.
• People with disabilities.
• People living with long-term health conditions.
• Older people aged 65 years and above.
• LGBTQ+ communities.
• Other underserved or underrepresented groups.

Projects should demonstrate how they will increase participation in physical activity among these priority audiences.

Eligible Projects

Examples of eligible activities include:

• Improving sports and recreation facilities.
• Upgrading community activity spaces.
• Enhancing parks or outdoor exercise areas.
• Improving indoor physical activity facilities.
• Creating inclusive exercise environments.
• Increasing accessibility for people with disabilities.
• Developing spaces for community fitness programmes.
• Improving facilities that encourage active lifestyles.
• Projects that strengthen community use of existing physical activity spaces.

Projects should create long-term benefits that continue beyond the grant period.

Eligible Applicants

The fund is open to organizations delivering eligible projects within London.

Applicants must:

• Deliver projects within a London borough.
• Meet the Foundation’s due diligence requirements.
• Have appropriate governance arrangements.
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully manage the proposed project.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizations must generally:

• Have at least one year’s financial statements filed.
• Have a minimum of two unrelated directors.
• Meet the Foundation’s due diligence requirements.
• Deliver projects benefiting London communities.
• Support at least one priority beneficiary group.

Assessment Criteria

Applications are assessed based on factors including:

• Community need.
• Project quality.
• Expected impact.
• Sustainability.
• Community engagement.
• Organisational capacity.
• Value for money.
• Long-term benefits.

Additional priority is given to projects that:

• Serve highly deprived communities.
• Improve areas with limited access to physical activity facilities.
• Strengthen community participation.
• Employ staff with strong connections to local communities.
• Create sustainable improvements that continue after funding ends.

How to Apply

Organizations should generally follow these steps:

1. Confirm that the proposed project is located within a London borough.
2. Review the Foundation’s eligibility and due diligence requirements.
3. Identify how the project will benefit one or more priority groups.
4. Develop a detailed project proposal, including objectives, activities, budget, and expected outcomes.
5. Demonstrate community need and long-term sustainability.
6. Submit the completed application according to the Foundation’s application process.
7. Successful applicants will receive grant funding to deliver their projects.

Why This Fund Matters

Many communities across London continue to face barriers to participating in physical activity due to limited or poor-quality facilities.

The Active Spaces Fund helps:

• Improve community health.
• Reduce physical inactivity.
• Promote healthier lifestyles.
• Create inclusive recreational spaces.
• Increase access to safe places for exercise.
• Support long-term community wellbeing.
• Strengthen social connections.
• Reduce health inequalities.

By investing in community facilities, the fund creates opportunities for more people to stay active throughout their lives.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their application by:

• Clearly demonstrating community need.
• Showing how the project benefits underserved groups.
• Explaining long-term sustainability.
• Demonstrating strong community partnerships.
• Including realistic budgets and timelines.
• Showing evidence of local engagement.
• Explaining how facilities will remain active after the grant ends.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common application errors:

• Proposing projects outside London.
• Failing to identify priority beneficiaries.
• Providing weak evidence of community need.
• Submitting incomplete financial information.
• Not demonstrating long-term sustainability.
• Ignoring due diligence requirements.
• Presenting unrealistic budgets or project timelines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the London Marathon Foundation Active Spaces Fund?

The Active Spaces Fund provides grants to improve physical activity spaces and facilities across London, helping underserved communities become more active and healthier.

How much funding is available?

Eligible organizations can apply for grants ranging from £10,000 to £80,000.

Who can apply?

Organizations delivering eligible projects within London boroughs that meet the Foundation’s governance and due diligence requirements are eligible to apply.

Who are the priority beneficiaries?

Priority groups include children, young people, ethnically diverse communities, people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, women and girls, people with disabilities, people with long-term health conditions, older adults aged 65+, LGBTQ+ communities, and other underserved groups.

What types of projects are eligible?

Projects that improve physical activity spaces, sports facilities, recreation areas, community exercise spaces, accessibility, and other facilities encouraging active lifestyles are eligible.

How are applications assessed?

Applications are assessed based on community need, expected impact, sustainability, community engagement, organisational capacity, and long-term benefits. Additional priority is given to projects serving deprived communities and areas with limited access to physical activity facilities.

Why is this fund important?

The fund helps improve access to safe, inclusive, and sustainable spaces for physical activity, reducing health inequalities while encouraging healthier lifestyles and stronger communities across London.

Conclusion

The London Marathon Foundation Active Spaces Fund offers a valuable opportunity for organizations across London to improve community spaces that encourage active and healthy living. With grants ranging from £10,000 to £80,000, the programme supports sustainable improvements that increase physical activity, strengthen community connections, and create lasting benefits for children, young people, and underserved communities throughout the capital.